What happened
On 2 August 2010, a Europa XS, registration G-IRON, was conducting a private flight near Wildfields Farm in Guildford, Surrey. During the landing phase, the aircraft touched down further along the airstrip than the pilot had intended. Following the touchdown, the pilot and passenger decided to execute a go-around.
During the climb-out phase of the missed approach, the aircraft's wingtip made contact with a tree. The impact caused damage to the propeller blades, the fuselage, and the wingtip. The aircraft subsequently landed in an adjacent field. There were no injuries to the pilot or the passenger.
The investigation
Investigators examined the circumstances surrounding the landing and the subsequent maneuver. The pilot reported that the wind conditions had dropped during the approach, which had effectively increased the landing distance required for the operation. The investigation reviewed the aircraft's flight path and the sequence of events leading from the touchdown to the tree strike.